LAKELAND, Fla. -- If the Detroit Tigers really want Justin Verlander to throw 40 pitches during a bullpen session, they should tell him to stop at 39.

Verlander threw his third bullpen session of the week Saturday morning as Tigers pitchers and catchers went through their second full day of workouts. He threw 41 pitches -- one more than he was scheduled to throw -- and said it went very well.

"It felt good," Verlander said. "Really, it's kind of getting to the point where I don't even feel anything in my hips or my groin. Everything feels good. I'm
starting to just completely forget about it and focusing on getting my arm ready."

Verlander has tried to find the right balance in how hard he works while fighting his way back from core muscle surgery last month. He laughed when he was asked about the extra pitch he threw during his latest bullpen session, which came two days after he threw 31 pitches -- one more than he was scheduled to throw that day.

"One pitch is pretty docile for me," Verlander said. "Usually I go over by six or seven, but that goes back to not wanting to push too hard."

Ausmus understands Verlander's mentality. That's why he reminded catcher Alex Avila to keep a pitch count during Verlander's session. Verlander was responsible for counting his pitches, but Ausmus wanted to make sure he had backup.

"Whatever the number is, he always seems to be one over," Ausmus said.
"When it was 20, he threw 21. When it was 30, he threw 31."

Generally speaking, half the pitchers pitch each day during the early days of spring training, so through two full days of workouts all of the pitchers have taken part in a throwing session. Ausmus said everyone got through the first round without any physical ailments popping up.

"We haven't had any issues to this point," Ausmus said, while knocking on the wood on top of the desk in the manager's office at Joker Marchant Stadium. "No sore elbows or shoulders to this point. I'm sure we will. Not so far. Verlander's name was the only name on the list today, for obvious reasons."